Horizontal honing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet l H J CALDWELL HORIZONTAL HONING MACHINE Filed Nov 19 1938 March 26,- 1940.

March 26, 1940. H. J. CALDWELL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed. Nov. 19, 1938 ma, 0' r Ca/ we 5%,

TTOQN EYS March 26, 1940. H. J. CALDWELL HORIZONTAL nomue mourns Filed 'Nov. 19, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 26, 1940 unirs STATES OFFlCE HORIZONTAL HONING MACHINE Harry J. Caldwell, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barnes Drill 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 19, 1938, Serial No. 241,320

20 Claims.

zontal position during the honing operation. In

such machines the honing tool is carried on an elongated power driven spindle or on a driver which constitutes an extension of the spindle, the driver being of sufficient length to extend substantially entirely through the work piece so that the tool may be traversed from one end of the work piece to the other. The use of horizontal honing machines has been restricted heretofore to work pieces of moderate length as, for example, twenty feet or less, because of the difiiculty of preventing vibration or whip when the driver is rotated at the speed required in the honing operation; The present invention aims to overcome the above difiiculty, and its primary object is to provide an improved honing machine adapted to hone. work pieces of any length that can be handled in the preliminary stages of production and to dress such long work pieces with a high degree of accuracy for roundness and straightness, and with an extremely smooth, true surface finish.

A more specific object is to provide novel means for supporting the tool driver of a horizontal honing machine at one or more intermediate points so as to efi'ectually eliminate vibration or whip when the driver is rotated.

Another object isto provide an improved sup the driver without interfering with its reciprocation. A

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bed end of a horizontal honing machine embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the left end of the machine bed showing the positions of the tool driver supports when the head is fully retracted.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the right end of the machine bed as it appears when the head is in its 5 advanced position.

. 5 Fig.4 is a plan view showing the positions of the driver supports when the head is in the fully advanced position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5- -5 of Fig. 4 showing details of the supports.

Fig. 6 is aseotional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing one of the supports in end elevation.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-? of Fig. 6 showing details of the latch mechanism for temporarily holding a support at the forward end of the machine bed.

Fig. 8 is a sectionalview taken along the lin for ,operatively connecting the spindle head with a support.

. Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 8showing the relative arrangement of the connecting means for a plurality of supports. i i

Fig. 10 is a sectional view v similar to Fig. 8

by showing the connecting means engaged.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I 3Q have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but

it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed but intend to cover all modifications,

adaptations and alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to Figs. 1 to-S of the drawings, the machine selected to illustrate the invention com- 40 prises generally an elongated base consisting of a bed section l5 and a work supporting section. 16 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured together in endto-end relation. Guide bars ll mounted on the side walls of the bed section in parallel spaced relation form a track or guideway for a reciprocatory spindle head It (Figs. 1 and 4). Journaled on the head I8 is a spindle l9 to which is coupled an elongated shaft or driver 20 carrying' at its free end a cylindrical abrasive tool or hone 2| of the usual and well known type. Any suitable means such as electric motor 22, herein shown as mounted on the head 18, may be utilizedto rotate the spindle l9 and with it the driver 20 and tool 2 I. Since the driver is coupled with the spindle, the tool 2i may be reciprocated axially of a work piece supported on the base section iii by reciprocation of the spindle head l8 on the guideway.

In the particular machine illustrated, the head i8 is reciprocated on the guideway to traverse the tool over the work piece by means of flexible cables 28 and 23 each connected at one end to the head and anchored at the other end to a grooved cable drum 2 3 rotatably supported in a housing M at one end of the base section IS. The cable 23 leads directly to the cable drum while the cable 23* is carried over a sheave 25 yieldably supported at the opposite end of the base section. Any suitable means, such as a reversible hydraulic motor, maybe utilized for rotating the cable drum 2t, first in one direction and then in the other direction to alternately wind up and pay out the cables .23 and 23 and thus move. the head back and forth on the guideway.

In order to attain the same high degree of accuracy in finishing long work pieces as is commonly attained in the finishing of relatively short work pieces, the honing tool must be traversed from one end of the work piece to the other in one continuous stroke. Since the tool operates within the work piece, it therefore is necessary to provide a driver at least as long as the tool stroke so that the tool may be advanced to the end of the Work piece farthest from the-head.

It has been found that when the length of the driver is increased beyond a predetermined minimum length, the bending or sag between the head and the tool is sufiicient to cause the driver to vibrate or whip when it is rotated at the speed required in the honing operation. Further, there is danger of the long driver becoming set in the bent condition if allowed to stand idle l for a time with the tool withdrawn from the work. In any event, it is essential to maintain the driver substantially straight at all times to avoid vibration which is reflected in the operation of the tool and which is obviously objectionable in honing machines which are required to work to an accuracy measured in ten thousandths of an inch.

The present invention effectually eliminates the causes of the vibration above referred to regardless of the length of the driver. This is accomplished by providing novel means for supporting the driver at one or more intermediate points. To this end, an independent rest or support 3| is provided for each intermediate point at which support is required.

In order to avoid interference with the recip 'rocatory movements of the head l8, the supports are mounted to reciprocate with the head and through predetermined different portions of its forward and return strokes. Each rest is therefore arranged to be connected independently with the head through the appropriate portion of its stroke and means is provided for effecting such connection in proper timed relation to the reciprocation of the head.

The exemplary machine is shown equipped with three of the traveling supports, above referred to, identified respectively by the reference characters 3i, 3% and Bi The number of supports employed may vary in different machines, depending upon the length of the driver and other factors presented by the particular machine involved. The supports are entirely independent of each other and may be of identical construction. The reciprocating means for the supports are likewise similar, although the connecting mechanisms associated therewith are arranged to become operative at different points in the reciprocation of the head for the reasons above explained.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, each of the traveling supports 3|, 3| and 3P comprises, in its preferred form, a frame 32 consisting of a. single casting generally rectangular in horizontal section. Projecting laterally from each corner of the frame 32 is 2. lug 33 in which is fixedl a vertical pin or stud 34 constituting a shaft for a roller 35. The roller 35, as herein shown, is of generally spool-shaped form presenting inclined opposed bearing surfaces for engagement with the guide bars 11. As there are four of these rollers, two at each side of the frame engaging the respective guide bars, the frame is securely held against movement transversely of the guideway and yet is freely reciprocable thereon.

The front and rear walls of the frame 32 are formed with outwardly projecting flanges 36 and 31 defining alined upwardly opening semicylindrical recesses. Disposed in these recesses and bolted or otherwise removably secured to the flanges 36 and 31 are a pair of spiders 38 (Fig. 6) which support between them an elongated tubular bearing member 39 in exact axial alinement with the spindle: [9. The bearing member 39 is dimensioned to receive the driver 20 with a sliding and rotating fit and thus constitutes a movable bearing for supporting the driver at an intermediate point.

The bearing member 39 and its supporting spiders 38 may be readily removed from. the machine without disconnecting the tool driver by simply withdrawing the connecting bolts and rocking the spiders through a half revolution of the axis of the driver.

one section may be removed to free the parts. The use of the split bearing member also facilitates the removal of the driver from the ma.-

chine.

In order to enable the supports to carry out their functions of supporting the driver during the reciprocation of the head without at the same time interfering with such reciprocation, it is necessary to move them with the head through predetermined portions of its forward and return strokes. To this end, the invention provides novel means for temporarily connecting each support with the head 18 independently of the other supports.

The connecting means, in its preferred form, comprises a series of endless flexible cables 4|, li and 4E individual to the supports 3|, 3H and 3N respectively, and operatively connected thereto. Each cable is looped over freely running sheaves 32 and 43 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) journaled at opposite ends of the base section 15. The sheaves are so positioned that the upper run of the cable is parallel to the guideway and lies just below the tool head I8. medium of a novel connecting mechanism (Fig. 8), the cable 4| is temporarily connected with the head whereby the support, to which -it is attached is pulled along with the head in its reciprocation on the guideway.

The invention may be more easily explained and understood by describing the general mode of operation before entering in a detailed description of the specific structure by which the desired results are obtained. In particular, it will The bearing member is split longitudinally as indicated at 613, so that Through the 1 strokes.

the latch lug 53 to cam the latch bolt upwardly be helpful to consider first the sequence in which the connecting mechanisms for the several cables are engaged and disengaged as the head passes a predetermined point in its forward and return Preferably, the connecting mechanisms are arranged to be engaged when the head is in retracted position or at the right end of the guide- Way and the supports 3|, 3H and 3" are spaced along the guideway as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The fully retracted position of the head is designated by the reference character A in Fig. 3.

The head is advanced to position B to, insert the.

tool in the work piece and then reciprocated in its working stroke the rearward limit of which is position B. The three supports advance with the head to position C at which the connecting mechanism forsupport 3| is disengaged, thereby interrupting the forward movement of that support. Support 3| therefore remains stationary in its advanced positionadjacent the left end of the guideway.

Supports 3i and 3I continue their forward movement with the head to position D (Fig. 3) at which point the connecting mechanism for the support 3P is disengaged. Support 3i now moves forward alone with the head until the as-.

sociated connecting mechanism is disengaged at position E. The supports all remain stationary while the head completes its forward stroke.

Upon the return of the head, the supports are picked up progressively but in the reverse order and carried along with the head to their respective retracted positions. Thus, as the head passes position E, the connecting mechanism for the support 3! becomes engaged and this support moves back with the head. Support 3 I is picked up as the head passes position D and support 3! is picked up at position C. Thus the supports travel with the head through predetermined diiferent positions of its forward and return strokes so as to provide adequate support for the tool driver without interfering with the reciprocation of the head.

Having in mind the general mode of operation above explained, the preferred form of mechanism for eifecting movement of the supports will now be described. In the particular machine illustrated, the cable 4!, which comprises apart of the connecting means, is yieldably connected with the support 3| by means of an elongated pin 44 which also serves to connect the ends of the cable together to form an endless loop. The pin projects through an aperture in a bracket bolted or otherwise secured to the underside of the casting 32 as shown in Fig. '7. A coiled compression spring 41 is interposed between a nut 48 threaded onto one end of the pin 44 and the bracket 45, and a similar spring 49 is interposed between the bracket and a nut 50 threaded onto the opposite end of the pin. The springs thus permit a limited degree of movement between the pin and the bracket, which movement is utilized for operating a latch mechanism arranged to hold the support against premature movement from its advanced position.

sects the pin receiving aperture in the bracket.

The lower end of the bolt terminates in a latch lug 53 adapted to engage a shoulder 54 formed on a stationary catch 55 rigidly secured to a bed plate 56 extending longitudinally of the machine bed. The rear face 5t of the catch 55 is inagainst the action of a compression spring 58 as the support moves to the forward end of the guideway. The spring 58 then projects the latch bolt into latching position whereby the return movement of the support is blocked.

The withdrawal of the latch bolt 5| is effected automatically, in the present instance, when a predetermined tension is applied to the cable 4| to move the support 3| toward the opposite end of the guideway. For this purpose, the latch bolt 5| is apertured for the reception of the pin 44. The pin is formed with a reduced intermediate portion 59 which permits the latch member to move down into latching position under the. action of the spring58. Withdrawal of the latch bolt is effected by means of an annular cam sur face 60 formed on the pin44 adjacent the reduced intermediate portion 59 which coacts with exerted on the cable 4 I, the pin is shifted axially,

compressing the spring i'l, and the cam surface 60 of the pin 42 acts to cam the latch bolt out of the path of the catch as above described, thereby freeing the support for movement. In this way, accidental movement of the support toward retracted position (to the right as viewed in Fig. 7) through friction of the parts is effectually avoided.

The cables M and 4 I are connected with their respective supports 3N and 3mm the same way as the cable 4! and support 3! above described. Asthe structure provided for this purpose is the same in each instance, no further description is believed to be necessary.

The mechanism for temporarily connecting the cables with the head 18 maybe of any suitable type.

The part 6B .which is of generally cy-' for the reception of the latch and accordingly functions as a keeper, as will appear presently. The cables 41 and 4| are equipped with similar keepers fili and 66 cooperating with latch devices (55 and respectively, which are mounted on the head l8 adjacent the latch device 65, as shown in Fig. 9. v

Referring more particularly to Fig. 8, the keeper 6G in its preferred form comprises a front member 69 and a rear member 70, each provided with an oppositely facing conical socket H for receiving aconical thimble or collet l2 clamped on the cable 4h A cylindrical rod 13 of substantially smaller diameter than the members connects them together as a unit. The adjacent ends of the members 69 and it thus cooperate with the rod 13 to define the annular groove 68 for the reception of the latch 61.

The member 69 is preferably of cylindrical cross section and its outer end is tapered to form a generally. conical cam surface 14. The rear member 10 consists of a cylindrical inner end portion of the same diameter as the member 69 and an enlarged outer end portion defining a generally vertical shoulder or abutment l5 spaced rearwardly of the latch grooveB8.

The latch device 55,. which cooperates with the keeper 66, preferably comprises a pair of brackets As herein shown, it comprises separable parts .65 and 66 secured respectively to the head and to the cable. The part 65 includes a slidable latch 6'1. lindricalform, is provided with an annular groove l6 and 71 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the underside of the head in spaced relation. The support-shifting cable 4| is threaded through axially alined apertures 78 formed in the respective brackets as shown in Fig. 8. These apertures are dimensioned to receive the member 69 of the keeper and also the reduced end portion of the member 10 with a sliding fit but to block the passage of the enlarged end portion of the latter member. Thus, when the head is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 8, the member 69 and the inner end portion of the member'lli will enter the apertures and the bracket Ti will engage the shoulder 15 and carry the cable 5! along with the head. To prevent excessive wear, the aperture in the bracket 11 is encircled by a hardened steel ring 19 (Fig. 10) positioned for engagement with the shoulder 15. The outer end of the ring is beveled as indicated at Bil and serves to guide the members 69 and 10 into the apertures.

Connection of the cable ill to the head 18, for moving the associated support 3! with the head through a portion of its forward stroke, is effected through the medium of the lat/ch 6'! which is slidably supported between the brackets 16 and ll and guided for vertical movement by a headed bolt 82 carried on the bracket ll. and operating in a vertical slot 83 in one face of the latch. The latch is formed with a suitable aperture 84 dimensioned to receive the member 69 and adapted, when alined with the apertures 18, to allow the member 69 of the keeper to pass through to the position shown in Fig. 10.

A coiled compression spring 85 normally holds the latch 61 in its lowermost position with the apertures 18 and 84 out of alinement. However, when the head moves toward its retracted position or to the right as shown in Fig. 8, an inclined cam surface 86 formed on the latch adjacent the aperture 84 is engaged by the cam surface 14 of the member 69 of the keeper which lifts the latch against the action of the spring 85 to permit the member to slide through to the position shown in Fig. 10. The spring 85 then forces the latch downwardly into the groove 68 until it rests on the pin 13. In this position, the latch presents an abutment 8! in the path of member 69 so that upon movement of the head E8 to the left, the abutment 8'! acting on the member 69 serves to carry the cable 4! forwardly with the head.

In order to interrupt the movement of the support 3| as it approaches the end of the guideway, means is provided for releasing the latch 6'! as the head l8 passes a predetermined point in its forward stroke. This means, as herein shown, comprises a cam 88 (Fig. 10) adapted to be engaged by a roller 89 carried on the lower end of the latch. The cam is shaped so as to lift the latch sufficiently to withdraw the shoulder 81 from the path of the member 69, thereby interrupting the driving connection between the head and the cable so that the head can move through the remaining portion of its stroke while the cable and the support to which it is secured remain stationary.

The cam 88 is desirably supported in a manner such as to permit its being shifted longitudinally of the machine bed so that the point at which the keeper 66 and latch device are engaged and disengaged can be adjusted to suit the requirements of different kinds of work. To this end, the cam 88 as well as similar-cams 88 and 88*, provided when additional supports are employed, are carried on a supporting bracket 98 havinglaterally spaced depending arms 9! adapted to straddle an elongated supporting bar 92 rigid with the bed plate 56 and extending longitudinally of the machine bed. Set screws 93 threaded into one of the arms 9! engage the bar 92 to hold the cam securely in set position.

Where a plurality of driver supports are employed, as in the exemplary machine, the cam supporting brackets are constructed so as to position the cams 88, 83 and 88 (Fig. 9) in the path of the latch actuating rollers 89, 89 and 89 which, as above explained, are mounted side by side on the head. Thus, as shown in Fig. 9, the bracket is provided with a lateral extension 94 for supporting the cam 88. The brackets for supporting the cams 88 and 88 are formed without extensions but the cams are mounted at opposite ends of the respective brackets and are thus spaced apart similar to the spacing of the rollers 89 and 8t In order to positively stop the support 31 as it reaches the end of the guideway and after it is disconnected from the head, a stop bracket 85 (Figs. 4 and 5) bolted to the forward end of the bed section it is provided with a pair of adjustable stops 9%. The stops 95, as herein shown, comprise headed bolts threaded into the bracket so to project forwardly and engage resilient pads or bumpers 9'5 (Fig. 5) set in recesses in the end wall of the support. The support 3! in turn is provided with similar stops 96 for coopcrating with the support 3 l while the latter support carries stops for cooperation with the support 3|. By this means, all of the supports are brought to rest at the end of the guideway with a minimum of shock.

Suitable means is also provided for positively stopping the head it at the end of its forward stroke. As shown in Fig. l, this means comprises brackets 58 adjustably secured to the walls of the bed section 15 on opposite sides of the guideway. Stop bolts 99 threaded into upstanding lugs I00 formed on the respective brackets project forwardly to engage suitable pads carried on brackets lei bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the head.

As explained hereinbefore, the supports 3!, 3i and 3! are adapted to move with the head through predetermined different portions of its return stroke in order to avoid interfering with the reciprocation of the head. This is accom- I plished in the present instance by spacing the cams 88, 88 and 88 progressively along the guideway at positions C, D and E in Fig. 3. With the cams so spaced, the connecting mechanisms for the respective supports will he engaged and disengaged automatically as the head passes the points indicated.

As the head advances from position A, supports 3!, 3| and 3l move with it (to the left as viewed in Fig. 3) until the cam roller 89 of the latch device 65 engages the cam 38 at position C. The keeper $6 is thus disengaged from the latch device, as above explained, and movement of the support 3! is interrupted by the stops 96. This interruption takes place immediately after the latch lug 53 drops over the catch adjacent the end of the guideway. The keeper 66 thus remains stationary at point C.

Supports fil and 35* continue their forward movement with the head until the first mentioned support abuts against the stops $36 carried by the support 3! at the end of the guideway and the latch lug 5-5 drops over the catch 55 At the same time, the cam roller 39* of the latch device 35* engages thee-am .88 and ,75

ill)

E; The supports accordingly remain stationary at the forward end of the, guideway, as shown in Fig. 4,,until the head completes its forward stroke as defined bythe stops 99., The keepers 66, so and 65? are accordinglyfspaced alon the guideway above the cams 88, 88 and 88 at positions C, D and E, as shown inFig. 3.

Upon the return movement of the head I8, the supports are picked up progressively and carried along with the head until they reach their normal positions. The supports are retained in advancedposition, however, by the associated ,latches; 53, 53 and 53 until the pickup is effected by engagementof the latch devices with the keepers. Thus," as 'the head passes position E, keeper 156" is engaged by the latch device 55 so that t'ensioni's applied to is at position B. Askeeperjfifi is engaged and disengaged'at point C, the [support 3| 'with which it is associatedthus moves with the head,

through the portion of its stroke represented by the line BC. Supports3l and 31 in turn move with the head through'the portions of its.

stroke represented by the lines 5-D and B-E, respectively. a

When the head is fully retracted to withdraw the tool from the work, all of the supports move together with the head through the additional range of travel represented by the line AB.

Thus, the supports travel with the head through predetermined different portions of its forward and return strokes so as to provide adequate support for the tool driver without interfering with thereciprocation of the head. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a honing machine of novel and improved construction capable of honing work pieces of, relatively great length.

The machine embodies novel means for support,

ing the long tool driver intermediate its ends so as to effectually eliminate vibration or whip when the driver is rotated, thereby enabling the machine to dress such long work pieces with a high degree of accuracy for roundness, and

straightness and with an extremely true, smooth surface finish. The supportsfor the driver are supported on the same guideway as the head,

and through the medium of novel connecting means are adapted to be reciprocated with the head through predetermined different portions of its forward and return strokes so as to adequately support the tool driver without interfering with the reciprocation of the head.

on base, ahead reciprocable on said guideway, an elongated rotatable tool driver projecting forwardly from the head and reciprocable therewith, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends including a plurality of independently movable supports mounted for reciprocation on said guideway, a tubular bear-L ing member on each support for receiving the driver with a sliding aridrotating fit, and means for reciprocating said supports through strokes of predetermined difierenttlengths comprising endless flexible cablesindividual tothe supports} each cable being anchored to itsfsupport and looped over sheaves disposed at opposite ends of the machine base, cooperating means on the head and each of said cables for detachably connecting the cables to the head whereby movement of the head is imparted to the associated supports, and means on the machine base for aging and disengaging saidconnecting means as said" head moves through predetermined positions." I 1 l i 1 i l,

2. In a honing machine, in combination, an elongated base, a horizontally disposed guideway on said base, a head reciprocable on said guideway, an elongated rotatabletool driver, projecting forwardly from the head andreciprocable therewith, means for supporting said driver intermediate its end including a plurality of independently movable supports mounted for reciprocationon said guideway, and means for independently connecting each support with said head formovement with the head through a predetermined portion of its forward and return strokes, the extent of movement being different for each support, said connecting means including, flexiblev cables anchored to the respective supports and looped over sheaves supported below and at opposite ends of the guideway, and means for detachably connecting said cables with the head.

3. In a honing machine, in combination, an elongated base, a horizontally disposed guideway on said base, a head reciprocable on said guideway, means for reciprocating said head through a plurality of forward and return strokes, an elongated rotatable tool driver projecting forwardly from the head and reciprocable therewith, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends including a plurality of independently movable supports mounted for reciprocation on said guideway, a flexible cable anchored to each support and looped over sheaves supportedbelow and at opposite ends of the guideway, and means foroperatively connecting said cables to said head through different positions of its forward and return strokes to impart different degrees of movement to the respectivesupports.,v

elongated base, a horizontallydisposed guideway" l 50 4. In a honing machine,; in combination, an

on said base, a head reciprocable on said guideway, means for reciprocating the head through a plurality of forward and return strokes, an elongated rotatable tool driver projecting forwardly.

from the head and reciprocable therewith, means for supportingsaid driver intermediate its ends move the supports with the head through different for supporting said driver intermediate its ends comprising a support mounted for reciprocation on said guideway, a flexible cable anchored to said support and looped over sheaves below and at opposite ends of the guideway, and means for operatively connecting saidcable to the head to move the support with the head through a portion of its reciprocatory stroke.

dependent reciprocation on said guideway, and

means for reciprocating said supports each through a stroke of different length and in timed relation to the reciprocation of said head.

7. In a honing machine, in combination, a

reciprocatoryhead. a horizontally disposed guideway for said head, a rotatable tool driver projecting from said'head parallel to said guideway and reciprooable with the head, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends comprising a plurality of independent supports mounted for reciprocation on said guideway, and means individual to each supportfor effecting a positive driving connection between the support and the head while the head is moving through a predetermined portion of its stroke.

8. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a horizontally disposed guideway for said head, a rotatable tool driver projecting from said head parallel to said guideway and reciprocable with the head, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends comprising a plurality of independent supports mounted for reciprocation on said guideway, and means for reciprocating said supports through strokes of progressively varying length in timed relation to the reciprocation of said head.

9. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a horizontally disposed guideway for said head, a rotatable tool driver projecting from said head parallel to said guide way and reciprocable with the head, means for supporting driver intermediate its ends cor prising a plurality of independent supports mounted for reciprocation on said guideway and movable into abutting relationship at one end of the guideway when the head isi advanced to its forward position, and means for connecting said supports to said-head progressively in the return movement of the head whereby to shift the supports to predetermined spaced positions on said guideway.

10. In a. honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a horizontally disposed guideway for said head, a rotatable tool driver projecting from said head generally parallel to said guideway and reciprocable withthe head, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends comprising a support mounted for reciprocation on said guideway, means for operatively connecting said support with the head so as to move the support to the forward end of the guideway incident to thelforward movement of the head, latch means operative to hold the support at the forward end of the guideway while the head executes a portion of its return stroke, and means for disengaging said latch means and for operatively connecting the support with the head to move the support therewith through the remainder of its return stroke.

1 In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocable support, a flexible cable for reciprocating said support, an elongated pin connecting the ends of said cable, means connecting said pin to said support for limited endwise movement relative to the support, a latch bolt for holding the support against movement, and means on said pin coacting with means on 7 said latch bolt to withdraw the latch bolt from latching position upon movement of the pin relative to the support when tension is applied to the cable to move the support.

12. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocable support, a flexiblecable for reciprocating said support, an elongated pin connecting the ends of said cable, means connecting said pin to said support for limited endwise movement relative to the support, a latch bolt for holding the support against movement, a cam surface formed on said pin, a cooperating cam surface on said bolt, said pin acting through said cam surfaces to withdraw the bolt from latching position upon movement relative to the support, and means for applying tension to said cable to first move said pin and unlatch the support and then move the support.

13. A latch mechanism comprising, in combination, a bracket, a latch bolt slidably supported in a bore formed in the bracket, a spring acting on one end of the bolt tending to hold the bolt in latching position, a pin extending through the bracket and said latch bolt, a cam surface on said pin, a cooperating camsurface on said bolt, and means for shifting said pin ain'ally to engage said cam surfaces and thereby move the bolt out of latching position.

14. In a honing machine having a pair of reciprocatory members, in combination, power actuated means for reciprocating one of said members through a plurality of forward and return strokes, means for operatively connecting said one member to the other member to reciprocate the same comprising, an endless flexible cable. connected to the other member and having one run extending parallel to the path of said one member, a keeper secured to said cable, a latch device carriedby said one member operative to engage said keeper, and means for operating said latch device at predetermined positions in the forward and return strokes of said one member.

15. In a honing machine having a pair of reciprocatory members, in combination, power actuated means for reciprocating one of said members through a plurality of forward and return strokes..means for operatively connecting said one member to the other member to reciprocate the same comprising, an endless flexible cable connected to the other member and having one run extending parallel to the path [ill of said one member, a keeper secured to said cable, a latch device carried by said one mem- I to the reciprocatory path of the member, of connecting mechanism for temporarily connecting the cable to the member comprising, a keeper secured to said cable, a latch devicecarried by said member including apair of brackets apertured to receive said cable and said keeper, a

latch slidably supported between said brackets, said 'latch being apertured to receive the cable and the keeper, and means for shiftingsaid latch to engage the keeperand hold itagainst move- .ment'relative to the bracket.

(ill

1'7. The combination withareciprocatory mem-w 19. In a honing machine, in combination, a

turedto receive said cable and said keeper, a

latch slidab-ly supported between said brackets, an aperture in said latch adapted to aline with the apertures in said brackets when thelatch is shifted to one position to permit said keeper to enter the apertures in the brackets, and means for shifting said latch from said one position to prevent withdrawal of the keeper.

13. In a honing machine, in combination, a reciprocatory head, a horizontally disposed guideway for said head, a rotatable tool driver; projecting from said head generally parallel to the guicleway and reciprocable with the head, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends;

comprising a support mounted for reciprocation on the guideway, a cable anchored to said sup;

port, and means acting through said cable to move the support through a stroke having a predetermined relation to the reciprooatory' stroke of the head and in timed relation thereto.

reciprocatory head, a guideway for said head, a

' iotatable tool driver projecting from the head" generally parallel to said guideway and recip rocable with the head, means for supporting said driver intermediate its ends comprising a plurality of supports mounted for independent reciprocation on said guideway and movable into abutting relationship at one end of the guideway when the head is advanced to its forward position, and means operating in the return movement of the head for moving the supports the cable to the member comprising, a keeper secured to said cable, a latch carried by said member for cooperation with said keeper, means tending to move said latch into a position to engage the keeper and hold it for movement HARRY J. CALDWELL. 

